|
Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss: Six Simple Strategies for New Moms — Part
3
By Susan Peach
[related
articles: part
1- part
2 - part
3]
A healthy pregnancy almost always
involves weight gain. But now that
baby’s here, you’re probably
wishing those extra pounds would hurry
up and disappear! While it won’t
happen overnight, these six simple
tips can help you lose that extra
weight in a healthy way. (If you’re
looking for parts 1 and 2 of this
article, you can find them both at
http:// www.mambomoms.com/articles.html)
5) Get moderate exercise on a
regular basis. Of course, you should
get the go ahead from your doctor
first, and you will likely need to
wait longer if you’ve had a
caesarean birth, but most new moms can
begin a gentle fitness program very
soon after their baby is born.
Exercise is definitely one of those
things that most of us feel obligated
to do and few of us seem to enjoy. In
fact, for many moms, having a new baby
seems to be a great excuse not to
exercise. After all, you’re
legitimately busy, sleep-deprived, and
probably a bit nervous about leaving
your precious bundle with someone else
while you head to the gym. But wait!
Who ever said you had to pump iron,
punch a bag or jump around in a
fitness class for an hour to get your
exercise?
The whole key to sticking with a
fitness program is to choose an
activity you enjoy. If you enjoy
hiking outdoors, why not invest in a
baby carrier so you and your baby can
do this together? There are all kinds
of baby trailers on the market now so
your baby can join you on a bike ride
or even a cross country ski outing if
these are activities you enjoy. If
swimming is fun for you, why not offer
to take a friend’s teenager to the
pool. She can sit close by with your
baby on the pool deck while you do a
few lengths, and then you and your
baby can enjoy a leisurely lunch or
cup of tea while the teen gets a
chance to play in the pool in return
for helping you out. Yoga classes for
moms and babies are also popular now,
and this can be a very enjoyable and
relaxing way to spend time with your
baby while you exercise.
For the new mom who wasn’t active
before pregnancy, gentle forms of
exercise such as taking a stroll are
ideal. If you can find another new mom
close by to share this time with, your
walks will become a pleasant activity
that you look forward to, instead of
part of your dreaded post- natal
fitness program. If your health unit
or community nursing program offers a
drop in program for new moms you will
be able to connect with other moms
there. Or perhaps you’ve stayed in
touch with a mom you met in your
pre-natal classes. As you start to
feel more energetic you can increase
the length and the intensity of your
walks. Ans if the weather is bad you
can always walk around the mall and
enjoy the sights.
Gentle dancing or rocking while
holding your baby is also excellent
exercise that both of you can enjoy.
When your baby is fussy or tired and
nursing her doesn’t seem to be
helping, why not put on some music and
introduce her to your favourite dance
steps? She won’t mind if you don’t
get the steps right, she’ll just
enjoy being close to you while you
move, and you’ll get the fitness
benefits. Most babies will enjoy
dancing with you even when they’re
not tired and cranky. As she gets
older your dance dates will probably
be greeted with giggles and squeals of
delight.
Remember though that moderation in
your exercise program is the key. Even
if you bounce back quickly from your
baby’s birth and are feeling very
energetic, be sure to start slowly and
increase your exercise level
gradually. Too much too soon can set
you back by causing you to feel
exhausted later on in the day. This
can lead to grouchiness or a bout of
the baby blues, neither of which will
motivate you to continue exercising!
Remember the old adage, “always
leave ‘em wanting more.” This
should be your fitness mantra in the
first few postpartum months. In other
words, stop before you’ve had enough
and you’ll be more likely to
continue with your fitness program the
next day.
6) Wear your baby often. Using a
sling or carrier to keep baby close
during the day will make your baby
happier, plus it will give you a
little extra weight to pack around as
you do your daily chores and
activities. It may not seem like much,
but as your baby grows you’ll be
increasing the amount of weight
you’re carrying while you go about
your daily routines. And that adds up
to extra weight loss for you.
Instead of using a stroller when
you take a walk, put baby in the
carrier. Instead of putting her in a
swing or rocking seat, rock her to
sleep in your arms or in your baby
carrier while you stand and gently
bounce to and fro. When you go to the
grocery store, carry her in a sling
instead of putting her in the shopping
cart. In fact, if you’re lucky
enough to live within walking distance
of your grocery store, you can even
make this a daily outing to pick up a
few items each time. Your baby will
enjoy the extra closeness of being in
a sling or carrier as you do laundry,
tend the garden, or even take some
time out for a hobby like bird
watching. Babies in our society seem
to spend so much time strapped into
various pieces of equipment. Most will
love the opportunity to be closer to
the person they most adore—you!
The bonus for mom is that extra
weight to carry equals extra calories
burned. Over the course of a year this
can add up to significant weight loss,
in a very healthy way for all
concerned. Depending on how often you
carry your baby, and how much she
weighs, you can easily burn an extra
100-200 calories a day just by
carrying her along for part of your
day. Anytime you’re on the go, try
to carry your baby with you and
you’ll be getting the benefit of the
increased calorie burn that comes with
packing around an extra 10, 15, or 20
pounds.
And there you have it, six painless
ways to lose those extra pregnancy
pounds effortlessly and without
stress. Remember, your baby won’t be
small for long so try not to get too
preoccupied with weight loss. If you
eat well most of the time, get some
moderate exercise on a regular basis,
and follow the rest of the tips in
this article series, you’ll get back
in shape with hardly a second thought.
Susan Peach is a retired La Leche
League Leader, a dance and fitness
instructor, and mother to two teenage
boys. She is also the creator of Mambo
Moms, a fun and gentle Latin dance
based fitness program that helps new
moms get back in shape while spending
quality play time with their babies.
Find out more at http://www.mambomoms.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
|
